SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (November 1, 2024) — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and Arizona's Motiejus Krivas was among those student-athletes included on the list.
The sophomore appeared in all 36 games last year as a freshman, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds while playing just 12 minutees per game. He also had 19 blocked shots and 11 steals.
The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 11th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men's college basketball.
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2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Candidates*
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Clifford Omoruyi
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Alabama
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Motiejus Krivas
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Arizona
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Jayden Quaintance
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Arizona State
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Jonas Aidoo
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Arkansas
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Ryan Kalkbrenner
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Creighton
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Khaman Maluach
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Duke
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Oumar Ballo
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Indiana
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Hunter Dickinson
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Kansas
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Amari Williams
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Kentucky
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Derik Queen
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Maryland
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Vladislav Goldin
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Michigan
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Dawson Garcia
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Minnesota
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Malik Dia
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Ole Miss
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Robbie Avila
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Saint Louis
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Mitchell Saxen
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Saint Mary's
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Maxime Raynaud
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Stanford
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Eddie Lampkin Jr.
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Syracuse
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William Kyle III
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UCLA
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Samson Johnson
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UConn
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Efton Reid III
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Wake Forest
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*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2024-25 season.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, November 1. In early February, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10, and then in early March, to just five. Later in March, the winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Awards is composed of top college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award are Zach Edey, Purdue (2023-24), Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016), and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
For more information on the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #KareemAward, and #LeslieAward on X and Instagram.
